Bar unscrambler

ABSTRACT

A bar unscrambler is provided consisting of feed cradles, shuffle bed modules, and bar feeder units, which are so arranged as to effectively and progressively unscramble or separate bars and the like from a bundle of bars and from each other. The feed cradles are provided with elements having a walking beam type of movement. The shuffle bed modules comprise mainly walking and fixed beam components, the walking beam components functioning also to activate the aforesaid feed cradle elements. The bar feeders have incorporated therein bar stops effective to temporarily restrain movement of the unscrambled bars, and have also incorporated therein bar selectors designed to individually move the restrained bars to a transfer mechanism or the like, the movements of the bar selectors being synchronized to avoid interference with the bars as they move to the bar stops. Provision is also made for adjusting the position of the bar stops to accommodate bars of different sizes or dimensions.

United States Patent 1191 Kaplan 1451 Sept. 11, 1973 BAR UNSCRAMBLER [75inventor: Irving Leonard Kaplan, Cleveland.

Ohio

[73] Assignee: Carl Krasny & Associates, Inc.,

Cleveland, Ohio 5' 22 Filed: Jan. 21, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 219,886

Related U.S. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 878,132, Nov.19, 1969, Pat. No.

Primary ExaminerGerald M. Forlenza Assistant ExaminerFrank E. WernerAttorney-Isler & Omstein [5 7] ABSTRACT A bar unscrambler is providedconsisting of feed cradles, shuffle bed modules, and bar feeder units,which are so arranged as to effectively and progressively unscramble orseparate bars and the like from a bundle of bars and from each other.The feed cradles are provided with elements having a walking beam typeof movement. The shuffle bed modules comprise mainly walking and fixedbeam components, the walking beam components functioning also toactivate the aforesaid feed cradle elements. The bar feeders haveincorporated therein bar stops effective to temporarily restrainmovement of the unscrambled bars, and have also incorporated therein barselectors designed to individually move the restrained bars to atransfer mechanism or the like, the movements of the bar selectors beingsynchronized to avoid interference with the bars as they move to the barstops. Provision is also made for adjusting the position of the barstops to accommodate bars of different sizes ordimensions.v

5 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures Patented Sept. 11, 1973 11 Sheets-Sheet 1Patented Sept. 11, 1973' 3,757,964

11 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2

Phtented Sept. 11, 1973 1 1 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Sept. 11, 1973 l1Sheets-Sheet 4 ig. 7i

I II Patented Sept. 11, 1973 3,757,964

' 11 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Sept. 11, 1973 3,757,964

11 Sheets-Shoot 6 Patented Sept. 11, 1973 11 Sheets-Sheet 7 11Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented Sept. 11, 197.3

Patented SePLll, 1973 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 I Patented Sept. 11, 1973 11Sheets-Sheet 1O "Patented Sept. 11, 1973 11 Sheets-Shaet-ll mm- MN- BARUNSCRAMBLER This is a division of'application Ser. No. 878,132 filedNov. 19, 1969 now U.S. Pat. No. 3,670,902, June 20, 1972.

Bar and rod feeders, commonly termed bar unscramblers, are disclosed invarious patents, including U.S. Pats. Nos. 2,856,080; 2,999,603;3,130,830; 3,139,170; 3,157,292; 3,160,287; 3,182,816; ,208,577;3,214,001; 3,266,615 and 3,308,968.

Many of these unscramblers are of such design and construction as to beineffective to unscramble bars and rods of all shapes and sizes, whilesome are of such construction and design as to be ineffective to moveand unscramble bars in an efficient and expeditious manner.

The present invention has, as its primary object, the provision of a barunscrambler which is of simple, uncomplicated construction, yet iseffective to move and unscramble bars or rods of different sizes andshapes in a highly efficient and expeditious manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide an unscrambler consistingof feed cradles, shuffle bed modules, and bar feeder units which are soarranged as to effectively unscramble or separate bars from a bundle ofbars and from each other, in a progressive and orderly manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide an unscrambler utilizingfeed cradles of novel construction and having a unique movement whichavoids shock or damage to the parts, and which also has incorporatedtherein components having a walking-beam type of movement.

A further object of the invention is to provide an unscrambler utilizingnovel shuffle bed modules having walking and fixed beam components, andin which the walking beam components are also used to activate thewalking beam components of the feed cradles.

A further object of the invention is to provide an unscrambler in whichbar feeders or bar feeder units of novel construction are employed, andwhich have incorporated therein or associated therewith bar stops whichare effective to temporarily restrain movement of the unscrambled bars,as well as bar selectors which are effective to move the restrained barsto a transfer mechanism or the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide bar feeders or barfeeder units, in which the movements of the bar selectors aresynchronized to avoid interference with the bars as they move to the barstops.

A still further object of the invention is to provide readily accessiblemeans for adjusting the position of the bar stops to accommodate bars ofdifferent sizes or dimensions.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent during thecourse of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, andin which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughoutthe same,

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view, illustrating, in somewhatdiagrammatic manner, an unscrambler embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the unscrambler, asviewed from the bottom of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of bar flowand toward the pass line of the unscrambled bars, and showing moreparticularly the arrangement of feed cradles and driving means therefor;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view, on an enlarged scale, ofone of the feed cradle units, as viewed in the direction indicated bythe line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the walking feed cradle of the feedcradle unit, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows 4-4 ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the cradle unit, asviewed in the direction indicated by the arrows 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary rear elevational view, taken on the line 6-6 ofFIG. 3, and showing the mechanism for raising and lowering the feedcradle units;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary rear elevational view, taken on the line 77 ofFIG. 3, and showing the drive unit for the mechanism shown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken on the line 8-8 ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view, taken on the line 9-9 ofFIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of one of the powered shuffle bedmodules, taken on the line 10-10 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the shuffle bedmodule, as viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows 11-11 in FIG.10;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the shuffle bed moduleof FIG. 10, as viewed from the left end of FIG. 10, but showing also aset of intermediate stationary and walking beams;

FIG. 13 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, takenon the line 13-13 of FIG. I, of one of the bar feeder, bar stop, and barselector units;

FIG. 13A is a fragmentary view, on an enlarged scale, ofa portion ofFIG. 13, showing, in broken outline, various movements of the bar stopand bar selector;

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 13, but showing certain other detailsof construction;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary elevational view of the bar feeder, bar stop,and bar selector, as viewed from the right end of FIG. 13, with portionsshown in crosssection;

FIG. 16 is a side elevational view of the bar feeder, bar stop and barselector unit at the extreme left in FIG. 1, as indicated by the arrows16-16, and showing means for adjusting the position of the bar stop, and

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary elevational view of the unit of FIG. 16, asviewed from the left end of FIG. 16.

GENERAL ARRANGEMENT Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 of thedrawings, a series of laterally-spaced feed cradles are shown, insomewhat diagrammatic manner, each being generally designated byreference character FC. Each of these feed cradles is of substantiallyidentical construction or assembly.

It may be noted that some of the feed cradles and other components ofthe unscrambler have been omitted in FIGS. 1 and 2, due to the necessityof avoiding reduction of the scale of these figures to a size in whichclarity is sacrificed.

Disposed forwardly of or in tandem with each of the feed cradles FC is ashuffle bed module, generally designated by reference character SB, andalso shown in somewhat diagrammatic manner.

Disposed forwardly of the shuffle beds, but in slightly laterally-offsetrelation to the shuffle beds, are bar feeders or bar feeder unitsgenerally designated by reference character BF. These are also shown insomewhat diagrammatic manner.

Other elements or units which form parts of the unscrambler will bedescribed in connection with the following detailed description of theaforesaid units of the unscrambler.

FEED CRADLE The specific construction of each of the feed cradles EC isshown most clearly in FIGS. 1 to 9, inclusive.

Each of the feed cradles is mounted for movement between a low positionshown in solid lines in FIG. 3, and a high position indicatedapproximately by the broken line A in said figure. In its low position,the feed cradle rests on a floor-mounted rigid pedestal 1.

Each feed cradle unit comprises an assembly consisting of a base element2, having an upstanding member 3, to which is welded a cradle arm whichconsists of a portion 4 which is inclined rearwardly in the low positionof the cradle and a portion 5 which extends forwardly at an angle ofabout 120 degrees to the portion 4. The portion 4 of the cradle arm hasfastened thereto a wear plate 6, and the portion 5 of the cradle arm hasfastened thereto a wear plate 7. These wear plates coact to provide asupport for the bundles of bars which are to be unscrambled.

The portions 4 of the cradle arms are interconnected with each other bymeans of channel beams 8, so that all of the cradle units are movable inunison with each other.

The portions 5 of the cradle arms are pivotally connected at theirforward ends to pins 9 (FIG. 3) which are carried by the fixed orstationary beams of the shuffle bed modules SB to be presentlydescribed.

Each of the portions 5 of the cradle arms carries a bracket 10, on whichis mounted a shaft 11, to which is pivotally connected a unit consistingof interconnected links 12 and 13, in the lower ends of which is mounteda pin 14. The pin 14 has pivotally connected thereto the rear end of awalking feed cradle 15 (FIG. 4) to which is fastened wear plates 16 and17. The wear plate 17 is pivotally connected at its forward ends to apin 18 (see FIG. 10) which is carried by the walking beam of the shufflebed module SB to be presently described.

Pivotally connected to the portions 5 of the cradle arms, as by pins 19,are bell crank levers 20, the lower arms of which carry a pin 21.

For the purpose of elevating the cradle units from a low position shownin solid lines in FIG. 3, to the high position shown in broken lines atA, a plurality of jacks is provided, each of which is generallydesignated by reference numeral 22.

These jacks may be of the type known as the Duff- Norton Ball ScrewJactuator, and each jack is mounted on a clevis 23, which is pivotallymounted on a pin 24 carried by a bracket 25 which is rigidly secured tothe floor 26.

Each jack comprises a housing 27 within which is mounted a screw 28,which carries a worm gear 29. The worm gear 29 is driven by a worm 30.Interconnecting shafts, concentric with worm 30 couple the several jackswhich operate in this assembly. One of these interconnecting shafts,concentric with worm 30, is

driven by pulley 31, pulley 33, endless belt 34, and the electric motordrive shaft 32. Drive shaft 32 is the output of an electrical motor orother type of prime mover generally designated by reference character 35(see FIGS. 2 and '7).

The screws 28 of the jacks transmit movement to the feed cradles throughan assembly consisting of spaced channel members 36 and 37 and a beam 38welded therebetween.

The beam 38 is pivotally connected to the pins 21 on the bell cranklevers 20, so that actuation of the screws 28 causes movement of thefeed cradles.

The beam 38 has an overtravel of about two inches, represented by thesolid and broken line positions of the bell crank levers 20 in FIG. 3,so as to eliminate shock forces on the jacks when the feed cradles arein their low position.

The operation of the feed cradles will be described later in thisspecification, in connection with the general operation of theunscrambler.

POWERED SHUFFLE BED MODULES The construction of a typical poweredshuffle bed module, such as module SB, is illustrated most clearly inFIGS. 1, 10, 11 and 12.

The shuffle bed module SB comprises a housing consisting of end plates40 and 41, which are interconnected by horizontal members 42 and 43 andside members 44 and 45 which form an enclosure for drive mechanism to bepresently described.

Mounted on the end plates 40 and 41 is a tubular member or beam 46, toone end of which is secured a bracket 47 in which is mounted the pin 9to which the portion 5 of the feed cradle arm is pivotally secured, aspreviously stated.

Mounted on the tubular member 46 is a longitudinally-extending plate 48to the sides of which are secured wear plates 49, 50, 51 and 52, whichconstitute sections of a fixed or stationary beam, the upper edges ofsome of which are provided with notches or recesses adapted to receivebars or rods which are being unscrambled, as these bars or rods areprogressively moved by a walking beam to be presently described.

The arrangement of wear plates, as thus described, is designed primarilyfor the unscrambling of shapes and flats, that is to say, thearrangement of notches or recesses in the wear plate is designed moreparticularly for that purpose.

For the unscrambling of rounds, an auxiliary wear plate 53 is provided,which is pivotally secured to the plate 48, as at 54, and when not inuse, is stored in the position shown in solid lines in FIG. 10, out ofthe path of movement of the bars. When it is desired to use the plate53, it is swung about the pivot 54 to the position shown in broken linesin FIG. 10, in which position it eliminates the wear plate 50 fromfunctioning, and itself functions to facilitate the unscrambling ofrounds.

The shuffle bed module further includes a pair of Iongitudinally-spacedsupports 55 and 56, which extend transversely of the module below thetubular member 46. These supports have welded thereto at their endsdepending brackets 57 providing bearing for crankpins 58.

Mounted on the supports 55 and 56, in adjacent parallel relation to thetubular member 46, is a second tubular member 59, on which is mounted alongitudinally-extending plate 60, to the sides of which are securedwear plates 61, 62, 63 and 64, constituting sections of a walking beamdesigned to coact with the stationary or fixed beam to progressivelymove the bars, rods, flats or shapes, to be unscrambled, along thelatter.

The wear plate 61 is provided at its rear end with a pin 18, to whichthe wearplate 17 of the walking feed cradle is pivotally connected, sothat the walking beam movement of the plate 61 is thus imparted to thewalking feed cradle.

Means are provided for imparting to the walking beam an orbitalmovement. Such means comprises a drive shaft 65 which is mounted torotate in bearings 66 affixed to the side members 44 and 45 of theshuffle bed module. The shaft 65, through a sprocket 66a mountedcentrally thereof drives an endless sprocket or roller chain 67, which,in turn, drives sprockets 68 and 69 which are mounted on crankshafts 70and 71, mounted to rotate in bearings 72 affixed to the side members 44and 45.

The crankshafts 70 and 71 are provided at their ends with crank arms 72afrom which the crankpins 58 extend, these crankpins, as previouslystated, being mounted in the brackets 57.

The shafts 65 of the shuffle bed modules are driven by means of shafts73 which interconnect the shafts 65 through couplings 74 and 75 (seeFIG. 1).

The drive shafts of the shuffle beds are driven in unison by means of ashuffle bed drive assembly, which is shown in FIG. 1 and is generallydesignated by reference numeral 76.

In FIG. 10, the sprocket chain 67 is shown as trailed around on idlersprocket 77. A mechanism (not shown), but actuatable by a screw 78 (FIG.may be employed for the purpose of shifting the position of the sprocket77 to thereby take up any slack or looseness in the chain 67.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that rotation of theshafts 65 in a counterclockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow inFIG. 10, will cause an orbital movement of the crankpins 58 in aclockwise direction, and thus cause the walking beam to have a similarorbital movement between a low position and a high position.

It has been found that if the center line of the crankshaft 71 isslightly higher than the center line of the crankshaft 70, that althoughthe orbital movements of the crankpins of the respective shafts is thesame, there is a longer component of linear travel of the walking beamat the right end of the beam, as viewed in FIG. 10, than at the left endof the beam, which difference in linear travel causes a quicker and moreeffective unscrambling action of the bars.

The roller chain 67, as previously stated, passes over an idler sprocket77, which exerts a tension on the chain to maintain it in a relativelytaut condition. Any looseness in the chain may be taken up by adjustmentof the position of the idler sprocket 77. The mechanism for thisadjustment is not shown, but a screw which is rotatable by a tool, forthis purpose, is indicated by reference numeral 78. I

Where the span between the powered shuffle bed modules is such that theportions of the bars between such modules are not properly supported,and might sag, it is desirable to utilize non-powered shuffle bedmodules which are disposed between the powered 1 modules.

Such non-powered modules are, in effect, units similar to thosedescribed, as to their fixed and walking beam components, but withoutthe housing structure embodied in the powered modules.

For this purpose, as best shown in FIGS. 1, 10 and I2, beams 79 aresecured to and interconnect the ends of the tubular members 59, andserve to support tubular members 86, which are similar in all respects,to the members 59. The members 80 have mounted thereonlongitudinally-extending plates 81, to the sides of which are securedwear plates similar to the wear plates 61, 62, 63'and' 64, whichconstitute sections of a walking beam which act in unison with thewalking beams 61, 62, 63 and 64, to progressively move the bars, rods,flats or shapes to be unscrambled. FIG. 12 shows two of these wearplates, designated 82 and 83, respectively.

The beams, constituted of the members 80, plate 81, and wear platesmounted on the latter, are designed to coact with stationary or fixedbeams, consisting of tubular members 84, similar to the members 46,plates 85, and wear plates similar to the wear plates 49, 50, 51 and 52,two of such wear plates, 86 and 87 being seen in FIG. 12. The tubularmembers 84 are supported on channel beams 88, which, in turn, aresupported on channel beams 89, which are attached to and interconnectthe end plates 46 and 41 of the powered shuffle bed modules.

BAR FEEDER, BAR STOP AND BAR SELECTOR The bar feeders BF are best seenin FIGS. 13, 13A, 14, 15, 16 and 17, and comprise an assembly or unitconsisting of a transfer chain, bar stop and bar selector, each of whichwill be separately described.

The assembly or unit includes a housing which supports a pair oftransversely spaced channel members 90 and 91, in the ends of which aremounted sprockets 92 and 93, about which are trained an endless chain94, which is designed to carry bars deposited thereon from the shufflebed modules to the bar stop.

The chain 94 is driven by means of a drive shaft 95, which is journalledfor rotation in the housing and which extends the entire width of theunscrambler, so that it simultaneously drives the chains 94 of all ofthe bar feeders.

The drive shaft 95 drives the chain 94 through a sprocket 96, the chainpassing over spaced idler sprockets 97 and 98, mounted in the housing.

The bar stop is designated by reference numeral 99 and is disposed inlaterally spaced relation to the channel member 941 It is attached atits lower portion to the upper end of a lever 100, which is pivotallyconnected to a pivot pin 101 mounted on the bar feeder housing. The barstop is adjustable between a first position, shown in broken lines inFIGS. 13 and 13A, and a second position, shown in solid lines in FIGS.13 and 13A, to provide varying stop positions for bars of differentsizes, cross-sections and conditions.

This adjustable movement of the bar stop is effected by means of anadjustable rod 102, which is pivotally connected at its forward end to apivot pin 103 on the lever 100, and is pivotally connected at its rearend to a crankpin 104 carried by a crank member 105 driven by a driveshaft 106. The drive shaft 106 extends the entire width of the machine,and simultaneously adjusts all of the bar stops. This adjustablemovement is effected by the orbital movement of the crank pin 104 aboutthe axis of the drive shaft 106.

For the purpose of separating each of the bars B from the bars on thechain 94 which are immediately behind the bar 13, a bar selectormechanism is provided.

The bar selector mechanism includes a bar selector 107, which when thebar stop is in position to restrain the bar B against forward movement,extends vertically, and is provided in its upper end with a forwardlyand downwardly inclined surface 108 and an upwardly inclined surface 109extending forwardly from the forward end of the surface 108, thesurfaces 108 and 109 coacting to provide a notch or recess in which thebar B rests pending transfer of this bar to a conveyer or the like.

The bar selector 107 is secured, as by bolts 110 and nuts 1 11, to abracket 112, which is welded at its lower end to a collar 113. Thecollar 113 is rotatably mounted with respect to an assembly or unit,which is keyed to a shaft 114, which is mounted for rotation in the bar.

The collar 113 has welded thereto, at a point spaced circumferentiallyfrom the bracket 112, a bracket 115, which is secured, as by bolts 116and nuts 116a, to bracket extensions 117, which, in turn, are pivotallysecured to the forward end of an adjustable connector rod 118. Theconnector rod 118 is pivoted at its rear end to a pivot pin 119 which ismounted in a bracket 120 secured to the bar feeder housing.

The collar 113 is in eccentric relation to the axis of the drive shaft114, so that rotation of the drive shaft causes the assembly or unit onwhich the collar 113 is mounted to rotate, which, in turn, causes thecollar 113 and the bar selector 107 to oscillate during each rotation ofthe shaft 114 through the various positions shown in broken lines inFIG. 13A.

BAR SIZE ADJUSTMENT For the purpose of adjusting the position of the barstop 99 in accordance with the size of the bars to be stopped, meanshave been provided for adjusting the initial position of the shaft 106.

Such adjustment means is best seen in FIGS. 16 and 17, and is providedin association with the bar feeder shown at the extreme left in FIG. 1.

Such means comprises a lever 121, which is keyed to the shaft 106, alink 122 pivoted, as at 123, to the lever 121, and a translating screw124, which is pivoted, as at 125, to the link 122.

The translating screw 124 is mounted for slidable reciprocal movement ina housing 126.

The position of the translating screw 124, for the purpose of adjustingthe position of the lever 121, is ad justed by means of a worm shaft127, which is actuated by a hand wheel 128, the shaft being mounted forrotation in a pedestal 129.

METHOD OF OPERATION The method of operation of the unscrambler, for thepurpose of unscrambling a bundle of bars, so as to enable the bars to befed, one at a time, to a transfer or feed mechanism, may be brieflydescribed as follows:

A bundle of bars is deposited by means of any suitable handlingequipment onto the feed cradle units, while the units are in their lowerposition, as in FIG. 3.

The cradles are then elevated to the position indicated approximately bythe broken lines A in FIG. 3,

causing some of the uppermost bars in the bundle to roll or fall bygravity onto the shuffle bed modules.

This action is repeated, with each elevation of the feed cradles untilall of the bars have been transferred onto the shuffle beds.

In order to obtain a quicker and more uniform movement of the bars fromthe bundle, a walking beam action is imparted to the bundle by means ofthe walking beam cradles shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and which are activatedin unison with the walking beam action of the shuffle bed modules.

As the bars fall or roll from the bundle, they are distributed, as alayer or row of bars, on the shuffle bed modules, and due to the walkingbeam action of the walking beams of these modules are movedprogressively along the stationary or fixed beams of these modules, sothat at the exit end of these modules, the bars are delivered singlyonto the transfer chains 94 of the bar feeders BF, which chains conveythe bars to the bar stops 99.

As each bar arrives at the bar stops 99, it is temporarily restrained bythe stops 99 against forward movement.

At this moment, the bar selectors 107 begin their upward movement from aposition shown in solid lines in FIG. 13A, which position coincides withthe level of the bottoms of the bars B, thus causing the previouslyrestrained bar to be separated from the bars therebehind and to beelevated, so as to cause such previously restrained bar to roll or fallby gravity down the inclined surface 108 of the bar selector 107 and tothe bottom of the recesses provided by the surfaces 108 and 109 of thebar selector.

As the bar selectors commence their forward movement to the positionsshown progressively in broken lines in FIG. 13A, the selected bar israised from its initial rest position and is carried forward and overthe restraining bar stops.

The selected bar is carried by the bar selector to the successivepositions shown in broken lines in FIG. 13A, and the bar is thendeposited onto a conveyor or transfer mechanism (not shown) for transferto any desired delivery point.

I claim:

1. In a bar feeder unit, a housing having means for progressing aplurality of bars to be unscrambled along said unit, stop means adjacentthe forward end of said unit for temporarily restraining movement ofeach of said bars from said unit, said stop means being independent ofsaid progressing means, means for adjusting the elevation of said stopmeans whereby to enable said stop means to stop bars of differentcross-sectional dimensions, selector means independent of said stopmeans for simultaneously moving and carrying each selected bar to aposition forwardly of said unit while precluding movement of theremainder of said bars, said bar selector having a V notch in its upperend for receiving said selected bar and being in laterally spacedrelation to said stop means, and means for imparting oscillatorymovement to said bar selector between a position adjacent the selectedbar and a forward position in which said bar can be deposited on atransfer means.

2. A bar feeder unit, as defined in claim 1, wherein said bar selectormoving means includes a drive shaft, means driven by said shaft andhaving an orbital movement about the axis of said shaft, and a collarrotatably means for rotating said rock shaft, said means including alever keyed to said rock shaft,-a link pivotally connected to saidlever, and a translating screw pivotally connected to said link.

5. A bar feeder unit, as defined in claim 4, including means for axiallymoving said translating screw, said last-named means including a shaftand a hand wheel for rotating said shaft.

* a: w a:

1. In a bar feeder unit, a housing having means for progressing a plurality of bars to be unscrambled along said unit, stop means adjacent the forward end of said unit for temporarily restraining movement of each of said bars from said unit, said stop means being independent of said progressing means, means for adjusting the elevation of said stop means whereby to enable said stop means to stop bars of different cross-sectional dimensions, selector means independent of said stop means for simultaneously moving and carrying each selected bar to a position forwardly of said unit while precluding movement of the remainder of said bars, said bar selector having a ''''V'''' notch in its upper end for receiving said selected bar and being in laterally spaced relation to said stop means, and means for imparting oscillatory movement to said bar selector between a position adjacent the selected bar and a forward position in which said bar can be deposited on a transfer means.
 2. A bar feeder unit, as defined in claim 1, wherein said bar selector moving means includes a drive shaft, means driven by said shaft and having an orbital movement about the axis of said shaft, and a collar rotatably supported by said orbital moving means and connected to said bar selector.
 3. A bar feeder unit, as defined in claim 2, wherein said means for adjusting the elevation of said stop means includes a rod operatively connected at one end to said stop means, a crank member pivotally connected to the other end of said connecting rod, and a rocK shaft for rotating said crank member.
 4. A bar feeder unit, as defined in claim 3, including means for rotating said rock shaft, said means including a lever keyed to said rock shaft, a link pivotally connected to said lever, and a translating screw pivotally connected to said link.
 5. A bar feeder unit, as defined in claim 4, including means for axially moving said translating screw, said last-named means including a shaft and a hand wheel for rotating said shaft. 